Wed, 02 May 2012, 13:14 PM Jets, Monster Trucks and More Invade Baton Rouge May 4-5

Courtesy of IHRA Communications Mardi Gras Nitro Jam presented by Domino's to Feature 'Monster' Lineup

BATON ROUGE, La. -- Jets, monster trucks and racecars, oh my!

If you thought last year's Mardi Gras Nitro Jam was intense, just wait until the newest edition of Nitro Jam hits the track May 4-5 at the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam presented by Domino's Pizza at State Capitol Raceway when a full night of nitro-powered drag racing, jet trucks, wheelstanders and more will be capped with the "biggest" drag race in motorsports history - the battle of the monster trucks.

At the 2012 Mardi Gras Nitro Jam the legendary Grave Digger monster truck, celebrating its 30th season of edge-of-your-seat motorsports entertainment, will be joined on the quarter-mile by the fan-favorite Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles machine in an epic showdown of the biggest and baddest trucks in the land in a first for the sport.

"It is an intense experience to say the least," said former Monster Jam world champion and Grave Digger pilot Randy Brown. "When you are used to launching this massive truck 30 feet in the air, it is a totally different experience lining up and trying to reach maximum speed all within the confines of a lane just wide enough to fit the truck. It has been a different experience for sure, but it has been a lot of fun."

With a full season of drag racing under his belt following a successful 2011 campaign against a much different opponent, the 30,000 horsepower Shockwave jet semi, Randy Brown will once again strap into the legendary black and green wrecking machine to take on drag racing newcomer Joey Parnell in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle in a head-to-head battle to the finish line. The two trucks barely fit into a single lane, but in 2012 fans will get to see these wild machines compete in one of the most unique and exciting matchups in all of drag racing.

>From halftrack burnouts on towering tires to wheel-to-wheel racing, the 2012 Monster Showdown will surely be one of the most exciting additions to Nitro Jam in some time.

"It has been overwhelming the response we have had being a part of Nitro Jam," Brown said. "It is neat because people are enjoying seeing the truck out of its element, doing something be-side what they are used to seeing every day. It is a refreshing change of pace for the fans.

"They also don't expect it to run as good as it does. That thing is a lot faster than what many of them expect and now there will be two of us out there putting on a show. It should be a lot of fun and a great show for the fans."

In addition to the Grave Digger versus Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle showdown, Nitro Jam fans will also see a variety of nitro classes in Baton Rouge including Pro Fuel Dragsters, AMSOIL ProstalgiaT Nitro Funny Cars, Nitro Harleys and Nostalgia Fuel Altereds in addition to the Shockwave jet semi, 300 mph jet dragsters and jet funny cars, wheelstanders and more.

Fans will also be able to take pictures and get autographs with all of the Monster Jam and Nitro Jam stars during the FanFest Pit Party held both nights. FanFest will get underway at 6:30 p.m. and Nitro Jam will begin at 8 p.m.

But when all is said and done, two of the most recognizable figures on the Monster Jam tour are sure to steal the show at most events on the 2012 schedule.

For more information on the Mardi Gras Nitro Jam, click here.